Admissions

Admission to Southern Wesleyan University is dependent upon scholastic attainment, character, and potential to profit by the programs offered. The university welcomes applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, or physical handicap, so long as they have a genuine desire for a post-secondary education and possess character traits that will enable them to fit into a Christian collegiate environment.

Each application is considered individually, taking into account basic admissions requirements and the individual’s unique abilities and circumstances. Acceptance is determined by the Director of Admissions in consultation with the Admissions Committee. Applicants are notified in writing as soon as a decision is made. Admission requirements vary depending on the program for which the student has applied.

Master Degree Program Admission Status

Regular–Applicant meets all requirements and has completed all program prerequisites.

Conditional–Applicant is admitted by action of the Chair of the School of Education and Music Studies, the Chair of the Benson School of Business and Social Sciences, or Social Sciences Graduate Admissions Committee.  The Chair or Social Sciences Graduate Admissions Committee may specify special admission requirements. Any specified requirements must be met no later than the end of the second graduate class. Regular admission after an “admission on condition” requires earning a minimum SWU GPA of 3.0 for the first semester in the master degree program.

Application to a Master Degree Program

For a candidate to be considered for admission, the following must be submitted to SWU’s Admissions Office:

1. Submission of a completed SWU Online application.
2. Official transcripts of all degree-conferring colleges.
3. Applicants to the MEd programs and the D. Clifton Wood MS in Counseling Psychology must provide two letters of recommendation from persons qualified to judge the applicant’s moral character, professional expertise, and capacity for graduate-level work.  One recommendation must be from a School Administrator for the MED in Classroom Leadership and MED in Administration and Supervision degree programs.
4. Evidence of required employment and/or experience.
5. Scores on the Graduate Record Exam, Miller Analogies Test or Graduate Management Admissions Test, as specified for the degree program, if requested by the Graduate Admissions Committee.
6. Applicants to the MEd program must provide proof of teacher certification.
7. For applicants for whom English is a second language, official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo score.
8. Satisfactory interview with the designated committee or academic department, if required.

If you have any questions regarding admission requirements for your degree program, please contact your admissions coordinator.

Master Degree Program Admission Requirements

1. Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
2. The specified minimum cumulative grade point average on all undergraduate course work or on the final 60 hours of undergraduate course work. Based on a 4.0 scale, the MBA, M.Ed. and D. Clifton Wood MS in Counseling Psychology require 3.0.
3. Official transcripts of all degree-conferring colleges.
4. Applicants to the MEd programs and the D. Clifton Wood MS in Counseling Psychology program must provide two letters of recommendation from persons qualified to judge the applicant’s moral character, professional expertise, and capacity for graduate-level work.  One recommendation must be from a School Administrator for the MED in Classroom Leadership and MED in Administration and Supervision degree programs.
5. Official TOEFL score of at least 550 (paper test), 213 (computer test) or equivalent evidence of proficiency in English (for applicants for whom English is a second language).
6. Satisfactory interview with designated committee or academic department, if required.
7. Experience or employment, as specified for each program.
8. Satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Exam, Miller Analogies Test, or Graduate Management Admissions Test, as specified for the degree program, if requested by the Graduate Admissions Committee. Official records are required from the testing organization.

Additional Requirements for International Student Admission into SWU Online

International students seeking admission into a fully online graduate program must provide evidence of English proficiency using one of the following, taken within the past two years:

• Official TOEFL score:
  • 570, with no individual score below 50, and TWE score of at least 5-paper test version
  • 80, with no individual score below 20-online version
• Official IELTS score of 7
• Official Duolingo score of 110

On the request of the prospective students, if one of the above test scores is unavailable, one of the following criteria may be used to demonstrate proficiency in English.

1. Completion of equivalent of U.S. bachelor’s degree at a university where the curriculum and instruction were exclusively in English.
2. GRE scores of no less than 287 overall, with at least 150 on Verbal Reasoning and 4 in writing, taken within the past two years.
3. GMAT scores of no less than 550 overall, with at least 35 on the Verbal section, and an AWA score of at least 5, and IR score of at least 6, taken within the past five years.

Academic Leveling Courses for Master of Business Administration (MBA)

All students applying to the MBA program who hold a bachelor’s degree will be required to take the Peregrine Comprehensive Business Exam instead of the GMAT or GRE exam.  Peregrine has customized the exam to match the subjects of our classes.  The objective of this policy is to augment student success, rather than to screen applicants from the program.  The exam helps to ensure they are equipped to pass the courses with quantitative content.  If a student’s score is less than 70% in any of the specified tested disciplines, they will be required to take self-paced academic leveling courses (ALC) for those disciplines.  The ALC leveling courses must be completed with a score of 70% or higher before registering for classes.

Learn more about the MBA leveling course requirements.

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Additional Admission Requirements

1. Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
2. GPA of 3.0 or better on all undergraduate course work or on the final 60 hours of undergraduate course work.
3. If GPA is less than 3.0, but better than 2.7, students may be granted conditional admission if approved by the Admission Committee.
4. If GPA is less than 2.5, and upon approval of the Admission Committee, students may take the GMAT and present a score of 450 or greater for consideration. Admission to the program is not guaranteed by taking the GMAT.
5. Official transcripts of all degree-conferring colleges.
6. Applicants for whom English is a second language; Applicant must submit an official TOEFL score of at least 550 (paper test), 213 (computer test) or equivalent evidence of proficiency in English. 
7. Undergraduate course work in statistics, accounting, and economics.  If this course work is missing, students may complete courses with these designations prior to the beginning of the program or students may take academic leveling courses (ALC) through Peregrine Academics.  Students must score an 70% or higher on the post-test.  Students must complete the ALC exams with a score of 70% or higher before registering for classes.

Master of Education in Teacher Leadership or Virtual Teaching

Additional Admissions Requirements

1. Valid teaching certificate from the State of South Carolina or equivalent out-of-state certification.
2. For a student who is not currently employed in a school district, written permission from the school administrator permitting the student access to the school for completion of course requirements and practicum experiences.
3. Two letters of recommendation from persons qualified to judge the applicant’s moral character, professional expertise, and capacity for graduate-level work. One recommendation must be from School Administrator.
4. Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
5. GPA of 3.0 on all undergraduate course work or on the final 60 hours of undergraduate course work. (If less than 3.0, student must have satisfactory scores on the GRE and/or approval of the Graduate Admissions Committee.)
6. Official transcripts of all degree-conferring colleges.
7. Applicants for whom English is a second language, applicant must submit an official TOEFL score of at least 550 (paper test), 213 (computer test) or equivalent evidence of proficiency in English. 

The M.Ed. program curriculum does not lead to initial teacher certification in South Carolina.

Master of Education in Administration and Supervision (MEDAS)

Additional Admissions Requirements

1. Valid teaching certificate from the State of South Carolina.
2. Current employment with a minimum of one year experience as an administrator or teacher such that the teacher’s classroom can serve as a “laboratory” for the completion of course requirements.
3. Two letters of recommendation from persons qualified to judge the applicant’s moral character, professional expertise, and capacity for graduate-level work. One recommendation must be from School Administrator.
4. Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
5. GPA of 3.0 on all undergraduate coursework or on the final 60 hours of undergraduate coursework. (If less than 3.0, the student must have satisfactory scores on the GRE and/or approval of the Graduate Admissions Committee.)
6. Official transcripts of all degree-conferring colleges.
7. Applicants for whom English is a second language, the applicant must submit an official TOEFL score of at least 550 (paper test), 213 (computer test), or equivalent evidence of proficiency in English.
8. Background statement (supplied by the university) of disclosure concerning all prior convictions including felonies and misdemeanors.

The M.Ed. program curriculum does not lead to initial teacher certification in South Carolina.

Disclaimer

The guidelines for renewing or adding an endorsement to your South Carolina Educator Licensure are established by the South Carolina Department of Education. Contact the South Carolina Department of Education for individual course requirements for licensure renewal and add-on endorsements. Licensure and renewal requirements may change due to changes made by the South Carolina Department of Education. It is the candidate’s responsibility to be aware of changes and his/her course needs.

Individuals from states other than South Carolina must contact their state department of education for audits of transcripts and course requirements unique to each state.

Master of Education in e-Learning and Instructional Design

Additional Admissions Requirements

1. Two letters of recommendation from persons qualified to judge the applicant’s moral character, professional expertise, and capacity for graduate-level work.
2. Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
3. Minimum GPA of 3.0 on all undergraduate coursework or on the final 60 hours of undergraduate coursework.  Students with a GPA of less than 3.0 must have satisfactory scores on the GRE and/or approval by the Graduate Admissions Committee.
4. Official transcripts of all degree-conferring colleges.
5. Applicants for whom English is not their primary language must submit an official TOEFL score of at least 550 (paper test), 213 (computer test), or equivalent evidence of proficiency in English.

The M.Ed. in e-Learning and Instructional Design program curriculum does not lead to initial teacher certification in South Carolina.

D. Clifton Wood Master of Science (MS) in Counseling Psychology

Additional Admissions Requirements

1. Two letters of recommendation from persons qualified to judge the applicant’s moral character, professional expertise, and capacity for graduate-level work.
2. Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
3. Minimum GPA of 3.0 on all undergraduate course work or on the final 60 hours of undergraduate course work.  Students with a GPA of less than 3.0 must have satisfactory scores on the GRE and/or approval by the Graduate Admissions Committee.
4. Official transcripts of all degree-conferring colleges.
5. Applicants for whom English is not their primary language must submit an official TOEFL score of at least 550 (paper test), 213 (computer test), or equivalent evidence of proficiency in English.
6. Satisfactory interview with the designated committee or academic department, if required.

Doctor of Education (EdD) Program Admission Status

Accepted

A student with accepted status has earned an average score from the Graduate Review Committee that meets or exceeds the cut score for admittance into the program.  Accepted students enroll in the upcoming semester:  fall or spring.  If a student earned accepted status and does not enroll in the upcoming semester, the student must re-apply or receive permission from the Chair of the School of Education and Music Studies to defer enrollment to the next term.

Reserve

A student with reserve status has earned an average score from the Graduate Review Committee that meets the cut score for admittance into the program.  The reserve student is accepted into the program, but the student’s eligibility to enroll is waitlisted until a seat opens.  The reserve student will be notified when an enrollment slot opens. Should a slot not open for the term of application, the student will be offered enrollment in the following term.  If the student does not enroll in the following term as offered, the student must re-apply or receive permission from the Chair of the School of Education and Music Studies to defer enrollment to the next term.  An applicant may submit a written request to the Graduate Review Committee for reserve status once.  The applicant must justify the reason for deferring enrollment in this request. 

Denied

A student with denied status has earned an average score from the Graduate Review Committee that is below the cut score for admittance into the program.  An applicant denied admission may not reapply for future admission to the program.

Amend

A student with amend status may be required by the Graduate Review Committee, upon initial review of the applicant’s submitted documentation, to provide additional documentation or information (e.g., additional professional recommendations) prior to the committee’s review of the student’s application for admission.  The student will have 10 business days from the date of notification of the amend status to upload the additional information requested to the application file.  Failure of the student to respond to the Graduate Review Committee requirements will result in the student being denied admission.

Admission Status Appeal

An applicant who is denied admission or placed on the reserve list may appeal this decision only in the case of one of the following:

• bias or perception of bias in the admission decision-making process;
• extenuating circumstances, which for good reason, the applicant did not inform the University in the application process, and the extenuating circumstances may have had a material impact on the admission decision.

In the case of an appeal that meets either of these criteria, the applicant must:

• appeal in writing to the Chair of the School of Education and Music Studies within 10 days of receiving the admission denial, as documented by the date on the status letter.
• state the reason for the appeal and provide supporting evidence.

The School Chair will consider the appeal and supporting evidence, will evaluate application documents, and will review the basis for the admission denial as was determined by the School of Education and Music Studies Graduate Review Committee.

The applicant will receive a written decision from the School Chair.  The Chair is not a member of the Graduate Review Committee to ensure objectivity in the consideration of the appeal; therefore, the decision of the Chair of the School of Education and Music Studies is final.

Application to the Doctor of Education Program

For a candidate to be considered for admission, the following must be submitted to SWU’s Admissions Office:

1. Submission of a completed SWU Online application.
2. Official transcripts of all degree-conferring colleges and university-level coursework.
3. A minimum of two professional references from persons qualified to judge the applicant’s moral character, professional expertise, and capacity for postgraduate-level work.  One of these references must be from a supervisor or administrator, and the other must be an academic reference from a professor or a content expert (not a colleague).  Professional references should be able to clearly describe the applicant’s abilities, knowledge, experience, and capability to succeed in this program.  It is recommended the applicant has the references focus on relevant competencies, aptitudes, and experiences.  References must be within one calendar year of application.
4. One-page personal statement to the School of Education Graduate Admissions Committee that states goals specific to the applicant’s plan of use for future teaching, learning, training, and research in a clear and compelling manner.  Applicants should share experiences that closely align with the program goals.  The statement is also reviewed for level of writing proficiency and evidence of originality and creativity.
5. Current resume that includes institution’s/organization’s name, role/s, and start and end dates.  The resume should demonstrate extensive broad experience in multiple relevant settings.
6. TOEFL score of at least 550 (paper test), 213 (computer test) or equivalent evidence of proficiency in English for applicants for whom English is a second language.

The Doctor of Education Program with a specialization in Curriculum and Assessment is designed to allow for initial enrollment in either the fall or spring semester while the Doctor of Education Program with a specialization in the Exceptional Learner will only allow for initial enrollment in the fall semester; new students will not be permitted to start courses during summer semester.  For questions regarding admission requirements for this degree program, please contact your admissions coordinator.

Doctor of Education (EdD) Program Admission Requirements

For a candidate to be considered for admission, he or she must:

1. have earned a master degree in education or related field from an institution that is fully accredited by a regional accrediting agency or a comparable degree from an international institution with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4-point scale.  Master degrees earned in a related field must be approved by the School of Education Graduate Review Committee.  Alignment of coursework foundational to and supportive of the EdD-curriculum and assessment is taken into consideration, e.g., research-related coursework.
2. be in good standing at all previous institutions of higher learning.  Students who, for academic or disciplinary reasons, are not eligible to register in the college or university last attended will not be admitted for graduate study.

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) Program Admission Status

Accepted

A student with accepted status has earned an average score from the Graduate Review Committee that meets or exceeds the cut score for admittance into the program.  Accepted students enroll in the upcoming semester:  fall or spring.  If a student earned accepted status and does not enroll in the upcoming semester, the student must re-apply or receive permission from the DBA program coordinator to defer enrollment to the next term.

Reserve

A student with reserve status has earned an average score from the Graduate Review Committee that meets the cut score for admittance into the program.  The reserve student is accepted into the program, but the student’s eligibility to enroll is waitlisted until a seat opens.  The reserve student will be notified when an enrollment slot opens. Should a slot not open for the term of application, the student will be offered enrollment in the following term.  If the student does not enroll in the following term as offered, the student must re-apply or receive permission from the DBA Program Coordinator to defer enrollment to the next term.  An applicant may submit a written request to the Graduate Review Committee for reserve status once.  The applicant must justify the reason for deferring enrollment in this request. 

Denied

A student with denied status has earned an average score from the Graduate Review Committee that is below the cut score for admittance into the program.  An applicant denied admission may not reapply for future admission to the program.

Amend

A student with amend status may be required by the Graduate Review Committee, upon initial review of the applicant’s submitted documentation, to provide additional documentation or information (e.g., additional professional recommendations) prior to the committee’s review of the student’s application for admission.  The student will have 10 business days from the date of notification of the amend status to upload the additional information requested to the application file.  Failure of the student to respond to the Graduate Review Committee requirements will result in the student being denied admission.

Admission Status Appeal

An applicant who is denied admission or placed on the reserve list may appeal this decision only in the case of one of the following:

• Bias or perception of bias in the admission decision-making process;

• Extenuating circumstances, which for good reason, the applicant did not inform the University in the application process, and the extenuating circumstances may have had a material impact on the admission decision.

In the case of an appeal that meets either of these criteria, the applicant must:

• Appeal in writing to the Chair of the School of Education and Music Studies within 10 days of receiving the admission denial, as documented by the date on the status letter.

• State the reason for the appeal and provide supporting evidence.

The Program Coordinator will consider the appeal and supporting evidence, will evaluate application documents, and will review the basis for the admission denial as was determined by the Benson School of Business and Social Sciences Review Committee.

The applicant will receive a written decision from the School Chair.  The Program Coordinator is not a member of the Graduate Review Committee to ensure objectivity in the consideration of the appeal; therefore, the decision of the DBA Program Coordinator is final.

Application to the Doctorate of Business Administration Program

For a candidate to be considered for admission, the following must be submitted to SWU’s Admissions Office:

1. Submission of a completed SWU Online application.
2. Official transcripts of all degree-conferring colleges and university-level coursework.
3. International transcripts must be approved by a NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) endorsed academic credentialing agency.  Southern Wesleyan University recommends the World Education Services and Josef Silny but will accept evaluations from other NACES members.
4. Submission of a Statement of Purpose essay.
5. Submission of a resume documenting professional experience in business or a related field for a minimum of three (3) years.
6. All applicants must take the Peregrine Comprehensive Business Exam before registering for classes.  This must be done early enough in advance in order to take any needed acdemic leveling courses (ALC) if scores in quantitative disciplines are lower than 70%.  The GRE, GMAT, or MAT tests are not required.  
7. Submission of official English language proficiency scores if English is not the candidate’s first language.  Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores are required.  A minimum score of 83 on the Internet-based TOEFL, a minimum overall band score of 6.5 on the IELTS is required, or a minimum score of 115 on the Duolingo is required.

The Doctorate of Business Administration Program is designed to allow for initial enrollment in either the fall or spring semester; new students will not be permitted to start courses during summer semester.  For questions regarding admission requirements for this degree program, please contact your admissions coordinator.

Doctorate of Business Administration Program Admission Requirements

For a candidate to be considered for admission, he or she must:

1. Have earned a master degree in business or related field from an institution that is fully accredited by a regional accrediting agency or a comparable degree from an international institution with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4-point scale.  Master degrees earned in a related field must be approved by the Benson School of Business and Social Sciences Graduate Review Committee.
2. International transcripts must be approved by a NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) endorsed academic credentialing agency.  Southern Wesleyan University recommends the World Education Services and Josef Silny but will accept evaluations from other NACES members.
3. Submit official transcripts of all degree-conferring colleges and university-level coursework.
4. Be in good standing at all previous institutions of higher learning.  Students who for academic or disciplinary reasons are not eligible to register in the college or university last attended, will not be admitted for graduate study.
5. Submit a Statement of Purpose essay.
6. Submit a resume documenting professional experience in business or a related field for a minimum of three (3) years.
7. All applicants must take the Peregrine Comprehensive Business Exam before registering for classes.  This must be done early enough in advance in order to take any needed acdemic leveling courses (ALC) if scores in quantitative disciplines are lower than 70%.  The GRE, GMAT, or MAT tests are not required.  
8. Submit official English language proficiency scores if English is not the candidate’s first language.  Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores are required.  A minimum score of 83 on the Internet-based TOEFL, a minimum overall band score of 6.5 on the IELTS is required, or a minimum score of 115 on the Duolingo is required.

Application to a Certificate Program 

For a candidate to be considered for admission in a certificate program, the following must be submitted to the Office of Admissions:

1. Submission of a completed SWU Online application.
2. $25 non-refundable application fee.
3. Official academic transcript from the regionally accredited college or university of highest degree earned.

Additionally, a candidate for the Certificate in the Master of Education in Classroom Leaders program must also submit:

1. Valid teaching certificate from the State of South Carolina or equivalent out-of-state certification. 
2. Verification of current employment as a school teacher.  Applicants who are not currently employed in a school district must provide written permission from the school administrator permitting the student access to the school for completion of course requirements and practicum experiences.

Additional Graduate Admission Information

If you have any questions regarding admission requirements for your degree program, please contact your admissions coordinator.

Requests for general information about SWU Online or questions about the application process should be directed to (864) 644-5557 or online@swu.edu.